All About Ice Spice's 5 Younger Siblings

Ice Spice is the eldest of six siblings, including her brother Joey

Ice Spice (whose real name is Isis Naija Gaston) developed a passion for music while growing up in the Bronx in New York City with her siblings.

The Grammy-nominated “In Ha Mood” rapper has always felt a responsibility to set a good example for them. Growing up, she protected her siblings against bullies and taught them how to defend themselves. Fortunately, after their sister rose to fame, they started receiving better treatment at school, according to an interview with The Cut.

Her younger brother, Joey Gaston, is now a football player and model with more than 20,000 Instagram followers. On the platform, he shares football content and shows off his sister’s achievements in music. The rest of her siblings appear to lead more private lives, but Ice Spice has shared bits and pieces about their bond in various interviews.

During a July 2023 Apple Music interview, the musician reflected, “I’m very grateful that I have so many siblings. ... I feel like I learned a lot of things at home that apply to real life now.” She added, “I guess them looking up to me is kind of a reflection of now, so many people looking up to me ... It did really prep me.”

Here's everything to know about Ice Spice’s siblings and their relationship with their rapper sister.

They grew up in the Bronx

Ice Spice was born to her parents, Charina Almanzar and Joseph Gaston, in the Bronx, New York. While giving a tour of her hometown for Apple Music in July 2023, the "Barbie World" artist shared that she was raised near the McDonald's where her mom and dad met while working.

Though her parents split after she was born and went on to welcome her siblings with different partners, they grew up close. After their separation when she was 2 years old, her parents and grandparents lived within a one-block radius of one another.

Ice Spice called the Bronx “one of the most authentic places in New York," which is "full of people from all different backgrounds." That same month, she also told Zane Lowe during their conversation that she had a “fun childhood” there but noted, “I only know it from my perspective.”

In a November 2023 GQ interview, Ice Spice's younger brother Joey reflected on his upbringing, revealing that he moved upstate with his dad during high school.

“My dad decided to make a change and move upstate,” he said. “He was like, ‘Yo, there’s a bigger house up there, it’s a better environment.’ I was excited because, you know, it’s tough living in the Bronx sometimes. I was excited to get out.”

At home, Ice Spice struggled with the complicated dynamics of her family when she was younger. She explained to Interview Magazine in December 2022 that her parents only welcomed her during their relationship before they split up and both went on to have individual families.

The musician revealed that she used to feel “jealous” that her other siblings had siblings who share the same two parents (whereas she only has half-siblings). “Now that I’m older, I just feel special,” she reflected.

Related: All About Ice Spice's Parents, Joseph Gaston and Charina Almanzar

Her brother is a football player and a model

Joey is signed to Next Models, and he’s also a quarterback at Iona Prep in New Rochelle, New York. He opened up about his passion for fashion and football during his November 2023 interview with GQ, revealing his plans to pursue both after graduating high school in 2025.

“I have a lot of interest, but I just gotta wait my turn a little bit more,” he explained about exploring opportunities to play college football. “I want to go to whatever college accepts me as the quarterback I am.”

Sometimes, at his games, people cheer him on in orange wigs — a reference to his sister’s signature bright orange hair. He recounted one time when “the whole student section had orange wigs on.” Unfortunately, it was a rough day for Joey's team. “By the second half, we were blowing them out,” he said. “I think it was 42-7, something like that. I start seeing the orange wigs come off. They were embarrassed.”

As for his modeling career, Joey told the magazine that he’s always loved taking photos. “I was on a bus ride to a football game, over here taking selfies and stuff like that, snapping people,” he shared. “That’s just in me. It’s in my blood. To my teammates, I was trying a little too hard to take my photos, but like, I'm not trying at all. It's natural to me.”

When he got approached by Next Models, he "jumped right on it." Joey added, "I can actually show myself and be myself. Instead of being on a bus taking selfies, I could be in a good setting taking professional photos!"

Ice Spice's siblings don’t see her as a celebrity

To her younger siblings, Ice Spice is still just their big sister. While speaking with Teen Vogue in June 2023, the rapper laughed about how they perceive her. “I love them down ... to them, I ain’t s---,” she said.

During his November 2023 GQ interview, Joey explained, “I don’t look at her as Ice Spice. I look at her as Isis, my older sister.”

He noted that he doesn’t mind being known to some people as the musician’s little brother because “everyone still knows [him] as Joey Gaston,” too.

“At school and all of that, I made my own name,” the athlete told the magazine. “They know me as the quarterback. I don’t go around the halls with people being like, ‘What’s good Ice Spice’s little brother!’ They always call me Joey.”

Ice Spice is protective of her siblings

As the oldest, Ice Spice does her best to set an example and protect her younger siblings.

“I was always told that growing up,” she shared during her July 2023 Apple Music interview. “‘Oh, you need to behave better ‘cause your sister’s watching you.’ All the eldest daughters know exactly what I’m talking about.”

She recalled empowering her sisters when they got bullied in school and advised them to "stand [their] ground." These days, Ice Spice’s siblings are recognized for her fame, and she prefers it that way.

In August 2023, she told The Cut, “Their friends and classmates treat them really well because they know they my sister, and I love that for them.”

While speaking with GQ in November 2023, Joey said his oldest sister is “definitely” protective. “She’s always trying to talk me up on little things, giving me tips,” he shared. “Whether it’s football or girls ... School too, she's always giving me tips because she always has my back. I’m grateful to have her as a sister.”

Ice Spice and her siblings work to stay connected

During her July 2023 Apple Music interview, Ice Spice shared that she doesn't have the opportunity to spend as much time with her siblings now that her career has taken off. “They’re great to talk to,” she told Lowe. “My sisters miss me so bad.”

She explained, “It do be hard to maintain a relationship with somebody you grew up with and then try to travel the whole world and please so many other people. It’s like, you still gotta pay attention to them. So, it’s a lot ... But I’m trying to deal with it. Shout to my sisters — I miss them.”

The rapper noted that it’s “sad” because she's had to sacrifice time with them for her career. Still, she wants to find a balance between her family and her musical ambitions.

Ice Spice added, “It’s all love. At the end of the day, I appreciate that they even miss me because some people’s siblings don’t care about them.”

Joey is proud of his sister

When he spoke to GQ in November 2023, Joey explained that he’s very supportive of his older sister’s music career. “She’s going to keep doing what she’s doing,” he said. “We’re going to love each other and give each other support 100% of the way.”

He recalled that when he first heard her songs, he thought, “Hold on, this a little catchy!” The football player added, “I always have faith in her. I’ve never doubted her, not a single day. ... Look at her now! She’s up there. I’m proud of where she’s at.”

Although Joey explained that he doesn’t listen to her “all the time,” he hears Ice Spice’s music when his dad plays it on the car radio. “My favorite artist is Lil Tjay. So when she made that song ‘Gangsta Boo’ with him, I was like, ‘Hold on, I gotta listen to this!’ ” he said.

In an August 2023 Instagram post, the model showed his sister some love. “Congratulations to Big Sis on being named Billboard Rookie of the Year !!” he captioned a selfie of them. Most recently, Joey joined Ice Spice at the 2024 Grammy Awards, where he applauded her from the stands and celebrated her success afterward at a nice dinner as seen on his Instagram.

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